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Province opening 464 continuing care spaces to ease pressure on hospitals

The province plans to open 464 continuing care spaces that are currently unfunded or unstaffed over the next year.

55 of those will be in Alberta Health Services’ North Zone.

Health Minister Stephen Mandel says they discovered 700 seniors staying in acute care beds that should be in long term care.

“The reality is those people need to be in the kind of care they should have, because it’s a much more in depth, and I think creative care when they’re in the long-term situation, rather than acute care. I think it’s really vitally important we ensure that people have the proper care.”

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He says they’ll be quickly transitioning those patients out of hospital into home and continuing care.

Alberta Health Services President and CEO Vickie Kaminski calls it welcome news.

“Everyone in hospital knows that it’s not the best place to live, to stay long-term, and that we need to make some changes, so adding continuing care beds is really good news for seniors are their families, and for hospital staff.”

Twenty per cent of the newly vacant spaces will be reserved for emergency patients.

The second phase of their plan will include $60 million from the Affordable Supportive Living Initiative to help those in acute care.

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